Brenna quickly wiped the blood away and gave her hair a quick fix. As she returned to the table everyone was looking at her.
"Honey, are you ok?" Sara asked.
"Yeah, I'm great. Dinner is great, Mom." Brenna faked a smile as best as she could.
"It really is!" Graham said, "So, Sara, is it rosemary that you added to the chicken?"
"Yes, Graham, it is."
"I knew it, it's delightful." He took a forkful and shoved it in his mouth.
"Hey, April?" Grandma said, "when are you and Leo gonna stop goof goofing around and give me great-grandkids?"
Leo started choking and went into a coughing fit. April smiled.
"Way to beat around the bush, Grandma." Brenna snickered.
"Ugh. I hate that expression!" April complained.
"Well?" grandma pressed on.
"Mom, I don't think April and Leo want to discuss this at the table." Sara interfered.
"No its ok, Mom." April said and looked at Leo who nodded. "We actually went through our first round of IVF yesterday."
"WHAT?!" Sara stood up and hugged April. "My babies are going to have a baby!"
April chuckled, "Not yet Mom, there's a really high chance that the baby won't take the first time." She said nonchalantly.
"Well, I'm still excited! And I'm hoping for the best!"
"Me too!" Beth exclaimed, "Adam, baby, you're getting a little buddy."
"That's awesome, Apes." Brenna said.
"Thanks. And are you sure you're ok?"
"Wow, you've gone into mom mode already. I'm fine!"
...
Brenna woke up the next morning with Greer's long and graceful arms around her. She would have gone back to sleep and enjoyed the moment but she couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong with her. She carefully unwrapped Greer's arms from around her waist and slipped on some sweats and a hoodie. With the intention to go visit Dr. Hamburg.
She made it to Dr. Hamburg's office relatively quickly. She had been there a few times before. She hesitated before knocking and wished Greer was here but there was no point in her stressing out over something Brenna didn't even know herself. She knocked.
"Brenna? What are you doing here? "Dr. Hamburg seemed surprised.
"Um, can I come in?"
"Yes. Please. Take seat."
"Thanks." Brenna took a seat on the gray couch.
"Brenna, why are you here?"
"I-I think I have, you know, the same thing my sister had."
Dr. Hamburg nodded slowly," Have you experienced fatigue, bleeding or the nose and gums, and nausea."
"Check. Check. And check," Brenna bit her lip.
"Ok, let's go run some tests. If you do have it, we'll hit it with all we've got."
...
2 hours later
Brenna had wondered all around the hospital waiting for the results. She wondered through the pediatrics are seeing the kids in the bed broke her heart and then she went to the maternity ward and saw all of the younger kids and though about how maybe one day one of those babies would be April's. The though made her smile.
Eventually, she made it to the chapel. It was empty. Brenna was never one to pray but it seemed as good of a time as ever. Just being in there was oddly comforting. Her phone buzzed in her pocket. It was Dr. Hamburg her results were in.
"I'm so sorry, Brenna. I'm afraid you were right. You have Leukemia. Same as April. We'll have to run some more test but I'm fairly sure I know what we are dealing with."
Brenna was speechless.
"Brenna, I know this is scary. But we know how to fight this and you have so much support at home. I know you'll get through this."
...
"Where is the sandwich for table 4?" Natalie shouted to the back of The Charles as she was running a wet rag across the bar top.
Brenna came and sat on one of the stools.
"Tequila. Now."
"Well, hello to you too." Natalie said cheerfully, "I gotta say Sis, you look like crap."
"Thanks. Now, Tequila." She said bitterly.
"It's two. The bar's not open yet. Besides isn't it too early to drink?"
"Aren't you too old to be a bar tender?"
"Ouch! And for your info I got promoted to manager." Natalie said as she poured the shot.
She handed the shot and the lime to Brenna. Brenna took it.
"So what happened? Did your girl dump you?"
"No. "
"What? Are you gonna make me guess?'
Brenna burst into tears.
"Oh, come here." Natalie sat at the stool next to Brenna's and wrapped her arms around her and let Brenna cry.
"I have cancer."